RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 253, 1 November 1897, Page 2

RACING NEWS.

VICTORIA BACING CLUB'S SPRING ' MEETING. ~

WINS THE DERBY.

(By Cable.--Press Association.)

MELBOUBNE, Saturday,

The V.B.C. Spring Meeting was opened to-day at Flemington in fine weather. There was a capital field of a dozen for the Melbourne Stakes, for which race Coil was installed favourite. His rider, Delaney, however appeared to take matters too easily after silencing Delaware and Wait-a-Bit inside the distance, and suffered defeat by a head from Battalion. Still Battalion's victory was a wonderfully good performance. After being badly left at the post Positano 'ran up into fourth position at the home turn, but failed to sustain a tfemehclous effort. ■' ' The next event on the programme was the Derby, and great excitement prevailed as the time advanced for the horses to go to'the post to try conclusions for the coveted blue riband. Mr W. R. Wilson s colt Aurum continued a firm odds-on favourite till the last. As they drew up to the distance it looked all right ibr the favourite, and his victory was loudly proclaimed, but Amberite here dashed up with a great run, and a little further on a mighty roar proclaimed that the favourite was beaten, and Amberite leaving his opponent in the run home won amidst a scene of intense ex-j citement, by lour lengths. Amberite s victory was well received, though the downfall of such a popular idol was a serious blow to a large section of the public, as the St. Albans colt had been a staunch favourite all through. _ After the race Aurum showed a cut on his near hmd, leg, which is accounted for by his being galloped on when making his effort to get up on the inside just before rounding the home turn. Two Victorian backers were heavily hit over Aurum's defeat, having forestalled the stable, and refusing to lay any money off. . . There was a great boil over in the Maribyrnong Plate, Lady Mostyn, who started at 20 to 1, winning that event. the winner started on the extreme outside ot the course, never being noticed till towards the finish, though she must have got away amongst the first division. An unfortunate accident happened to Mr W. R. Wilson s filly Symmetry, who was engaged in the Maribyrnong Plate. While being brought to the course the filly took fright at a passing train, and rearing [up, fell and injured herself so severely t hat she had to be withdrawn from the"race. ; The following are the details of the racing :— The Maiden Plate, a sweepstakes of 5 soys each, with 200sovs added. Weight for age. One mile. Mr H. C. White's be Clarion, 3 yrs, by Carbine-Clare, 7st 131b (H. C00k)... 1 Mr J. McSweeney's b g Kohl, 4yrs, by The Rebel—Discard, Bst 9lb (Holmes) 2 Mr C. Fairburn's eh c Pinfire, 3yrs by Carbine^Needle, 7st 131b (Murphy) , 3 Also ran: Alva, Amnesty, Erl Queen, Snapshot, Etheridge. . Betting: 6t04 on Clarion, 3to 1 against Amnesty, 10 to 1 Koha. Clarion did not get away any too well, but coming with a good run in tile straight, won easily by six lengths, a head separating the second and third, horses. Alva was fourth, and then followed Amnesty, Erl Queen, Snapshot, and Etheridge. Time, lmin 46sec.

The Melbourne Stakes, a sweepstakes ' of ssovs each, with 250 added ; second horse to receive 50sovs out of the stake; for three-year-olds and upwards; weight forage. One mile and a quarter. Mr J. G. Clark's eh g Battalion, aged, ' by Battailous—Nancy Till, Bst 131b (R. Lewis) 1 Jdr .W. Bailey's eh h Coil, 4yrs,. by Abercorn—Copra, 9st (A. Delaney)... 2 Mr J. Wilson's junr. br f Key, 3yrs, by Padlock—Governess, 7st 61b (P. Dowv ling ••• 3

Delaware, 9st 4lb ; Bloodshot, 9st 4lb; $>ositano, 9st 41b; True Blue; 9st 41b; Wait-a-Bit, 9st; Fucile, 9st. Toreador, Bst 131b; The Merry Boy, Sst 131b; Auraria, Bst 131b, also ran. ' Betting: 2 to 1 against Coil, sto 2 Delaware, 20 to 1 Battalion. When the barrier lifted Positano refused to budge till the field were 20 lengths ahead. Delaware ,and Wait-a-Bit were forcing the pace, followed by Key and Positano. The leaders remained much the same till the distance post was reached where Coil joined issue, and the latter had the race apparently at his mercy till Lewis brought Battalion along with a tremendous run, and, amidst a scene of great excitement, the latter won by a head. Key was only a neck away from Coil in third place. Wait-a-Bit, Toreador, Delaware, The Merry' Boy, Fucile, Bloodshot, True Blue; Positano, and Auraria finished in that order. Time, 2min 9f sec.

The Hotham Handicap, a sweepstake of ssoys each, Ift, with 200 added; second horse to receive 50sovs out of the stake. One mile and a-half. Mr W. Bailey's eh c Metford, 3yrs, by Carbine—Marchesa, 7st slb (Sixsmith) 1 Mr E. H. Knight's br g Surge, 5 yrs, by Gibraltar—Dilisk, 7st(Smith) ... 2 Mr J. N. McArthur's b m Canoona,

aged by Gang Forward—Small Talk (Brown) 0 Mr W. Forester's eh h Gaulus, 6yrs, by Gozot—lndustry, Bst slb (Callinan) ... 0

Seven others started. Betting :2to 1 against Metford, 4 to 1 Surge, 8 to 1 Gaulus. Won easily by two lengths from Surge, who was half a length in advance of Canoona and Gaulus, who ran a dead heat for third place; Bacchus was fifth, and Mischief sixth. Time, 2min 38Jsecs.

The Victoria Derby, a sweepstake of 25sovs each, sft, with l,ooosovs added; second horse to receive 200sovs, and the third lOOsovs out of the stake. Colts, Sst 101b ; fillies, Sst 51b. One mile and a-half (87 nominations, 80 of which paid ssovs forfeit; value of stake, £1,575). Mr W. Duggan's b c Amberite, by Carbine—Duenna (M. Harris) 1 Mr W. R. Wilson's b c Aurum, by

Trenton—Aura (H. J. Morrison) Mr J. Rowen's b c Fleet Admiral, by

Richmond—.Footstep (Lewis) 3 Mr W. R. Wilson's br c Manfred, by Trenton—Nellie (Gardiner) ... ... 4

The Hypnotist, by Trenton — The Charmer, and Eiridsdale, by Eiridspord— Aorere, also ran.

Betting: 2tol on Aurum, 3to 1 against Aniberite, 20 to Pothers.

From a splendid start, Manfred was the first to break the line, followed by Eiridsdale, Amberite, and Aurum. Up the river side Aurum ran up third, whilst at the mile post Fleet Admiral raced up alongside Amberite. Racing along the back, Fleet Admiral further improved his position, and on rounding into the straight, Manfred, Eiridsdale, and Fleet Admiral were nearly abreast, with Aurum coming fast on the outside. Just below the distance, the favourite looked like winning, but Harris brought Amberite along with a dash that apparently settled him, as he finished four lengths behind the Carbine colt. Fleet Admiral was third, only a length away from Aurum. Manfred was four lengths and a-half away fourth, with Eridsdale fifth, and The Hypnotist last. Time, 2min 39^sec. '• '

TheMaribyrnong Plate, a sweepstakes of 25sovs each, with l,ooosovs added. Second horse 300sovs and third 150sovs, out of the stake. For two years old. Fixed weights with penalties. Five furlongs.

Mr J. East's b f Lady Mostyn, by Neckersgat—Miss Mostyn, Bstslb (H.

Morrin) ' Mr W. Kelso's br c Essex, by Sweet William—Myall Queen, Bst 101b (H.

Cook) ... t Mr F. Fielder's eh c Vigorous, by Abercorn—Lady Vivian, Bst 101b (Fielder) t Mr W. T. Jones' b or br c Cardamon,

by Gossoon —Cinnamon, Bst 101b

The Pirate King, by The Admiral—The Fortune Teller, Bst 101b; Ormuz, by Bill of Portland—Cooya, Bst 101b ; Moonshee, by Sunlocks--Governess, Bst 101b; Cordite, by Zalinski—Busy Bee, Bst 51b ; Banfurly, by Eiridspord—Nina, Bst 10lb ; Standish, by Trenton—Girofle, Bst 101b; Rosscommon, by Sunrise—Roseneath, SstlOlb; Hainault, by Pilgrim's Progress—Kate Dalrymple, 9st lib (including slb penalty) also ran. Betting : 5 to 2 against Standish, 6 to 1 Ormuz and Vigorous, 7 to 1 Essex, 20 to 1 Lady Mostyn. ,'. Vigorous, Ormuz, and Essex, who were next the rails, were the quickest away. Lady Mostyn came away from her opponents, winning with the greatest of ease by three lengths. Essex and Vigorous, who ran- a dead heat for second honours, were four lengths in advance of Cardamon, Standish fifth. Ormuz sixth, Moonshee last. Time, lmin 4|sec. The Cobueg Stakes, a handicap sweepstakes of ssovs each, with 200 added; second horse 50sovs out of the stakes. For two-year-olds and, upwards. One mile.

Mr W. Forrester's br g The Grafter, 4 yrs, by Gozo—lndustry, Bst2lb (Callinan) 1 Mr J. C. Smith's b h Fitzroy, 4yrs, by Bussley — Young Mona, 7st 91b (Houseman) 2 Mr C. M. Lloyd's b g Interlude, 4yrs, by Abercorn—Prelude, 7st 21b (Lewis)... 3 Nineteen others ran. Betting: 2tol v. The Grafter, who led from start to finish, winning with the greatest of ease by four lengths ; three lengths between the second and third horses. Elusive was fourth. Time, 1 mm 42f sec.